Devi Bhagavatam 11.5.4 — Cosmic Feminine Manifestations, Skandha 11, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 4

Skandha 11, Adhyaya 5: Rudraksha Japa Mala Vidhana Varnanam

Devanagari script

वक्त्रं वक्त्रेण संयोज्य पुच्छं पुच्छेन योजयेत् । मेरुमूर्ध्वमुखं कुर्यात्तदूर्ध्वं नागपाशकम्

Transliteration

vaktraṃ vaktreṇa saṃyojya pucchaṃ pucchena yojayet . merumūrdhvamukhaṃ kuryāttadūrdhvaṃ nāgapāśakam

Translation

គេគួរតែចងគ្រាប់អង្កាំដោយភ្ជាប់មុខនឹងមុខ និងកន្ទុយនឹងកន្ទុយ។ គ្រាប់មេរុត្រូវដាក់ឱ្យបែរមុខទៅលើ ហើយនៅពីលើវាត្រូវធ្វើចំណងនាគបាសៈ។

Word by Word

• vaktram: face/mouth
• vaktram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• saṃyojya: having joined
• saṃyojya: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-yuj
• Form: Gerund (Lyap)

• yojayet: one should join
• yojayet: Verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj
• Form: 3rd Person, Singular, Optative, Causative

• merum: the Meru bead
• merum: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ūrdhvamukham: facing upwards
• ūrdhvamukham: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhvamukha
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• kuryāt: one should make
• kuryāt: Verb
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ
• Form: 3rd Person, Singular, Optative

• tadūrdhvam: above that
• tadūrdhvam: Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadūrdhvam
• Form: Adverb

• nāgapāśakam: serpent-knot
• nāgapāśakam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāgapāśaka
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

Ishvara (Shiva)

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: null

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: null

Tattva Discussed: null

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: setup

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: Japa Mala Nirmana

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Ishvara

Listener: Shanmukha

Dialogue Context: Explaining the specific knotting and orientation of beads in the mala

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: Crucial instruction for authentic mala makers. Face-to-face stringing preserves the energetic circuit. The Meru acts as the spiritual antenna.

Philosophical Significance

Text: The Meru represents the Supreme Guru or Mount Meru (the cosmic axis). One never crosses the Meru during Japa, signifying respect for the Guru. The Nagapashaka represents Kundalini energy coiled at the crown.

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Nagapashaka

FAQs

How should the individual beads be oriented when stringing them?

They should be strung face-to-face and tail-to-tail, ensuring a continuous flow of energy rather than a random arrangement.

What is the rule for the Meru bead and the knot above it?

The Meru (the central guiding bead) must face upwards, and a special knot called Nagapashaka (serpent's noose) should be tied above it.